This was extremely hard to write, but I'm pretty happy about it. Please let me know how it is to be read.
I don't own Naruto.
Two men faced each other, a million memories shared and a million dreams shattered. They were the strongest, the weakest, the red and the blue.
There was no white or black, not anymore. No gray, no shade at all except for him and him.
A sword was drawn, the sound of metal ringing through the misted field, both beautiful and revolting. It had killed before.
"Why?" one asked the other, unarmed, unafraid.
"Because it is what needs to be done."
"No." The response is immediate, firm, angry.
Red.
"Yes." The reply is slow and soft, sorrowful with the ring of truth.
Blue.
As always, opposites. When they were little, wouldn't they argue just for the sake of saying the opposite of the other?
"Did I not cut those bonds?" This time his voice is angry, too, but not in the same way as the fiery red.
"These chains are unbreakable." And both men can almost see them, heavy cuffs rattling, holding them together.
"I can break them." The sword is raised, glinting dangerously.
"I can burn them." Red is beginning to swirl, rising higher, higher…
"I can hate them." Ebony eyes narrow scornfully.
"I can love them." Blue eyes drift closed.
"Why?" A wind slowly, softly; lifts the mist, and one can see the others face, at last.
Blue eyes open, looking into the ones of black, as both fall silent, the sword still tense in the air.
"Because it needs to be done."
And, as always, the one will smile when the other frowns.
"Why?" He asks again, voice fighting to remain level, as confusion bubbles to the surface.
Silence falls again, neither man taking a step as one slowly lowers his sword, once again sheathing it with a piercing cling, the other letting the red fire die down.
It is obvious there will be no fighting, this time.
"Love is painful." He breathes, wild goldenrod hair flowing with the breeze. "Once you love someone, you can never forget them, even if they forget you."
The wolf eyes the fox.
"Do you think I have forgotten you?"
The fox laughs softly, as he always has, at the wolf.
"Do you think I love you?"
And the men stare into each other's eyes.
This is something the darkest one has never seen before. He has seen the light grow serious, he has seen it dim. But he has never seen a man in it, as he does now.
This is something the lightest one was always afraid of seeing. Because no matter how deep the darkness went, there was always innocence within it. Now there is maturity, a man.
"Who are you, now?" They ask at the same time, one voice sad, one voice curious.
They look at each startled, until one answers:
"Your friend."
And the other answers
"The avenger."
And again, at the same time they say
"Still?"
This time, one smiles while the other smiles, enemies no more.
Now they synchronize, figures still opposite, yet constantly pulling towards each other.
They walk forward, one no faster than the other, the one no slower, until they really face each other.
Men.
They each place a hand on the other's shoulder, drawing each other closer.
Body's clasped together, brothers, friends, rivals, they embrace each other, eyes closed, the wind whisking against their backs.
And in the middle of the empty field, grass half-dead and gold-green, they say
"Sasuke,"
"Naruto,"
Together,
"Welcome Home."